Causes And Risk Factors Of Toxoplasmosis

Infected Organ Transplant

Although very rare, patients receiving an organ transplant could contract toxoplasmosis if they are given an infected organ. Patients who have both solid organ transplants and stem cell transplants are at risk. A patient's risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from an organ transplant is related to the overall prevalence of the infection in the location where the organ was donated. For example, rates of toxoplasmosis in the general population are high in Europe, and the incidence of infected organ transplants is also higher there. Certain types of transplants, including heart transplants, are associated with an increased risk of infection with toxoplasmosis. This is because the heart is a recognized site of encystation of the T. gondii parasite. Patients who develop toxoplasmosis following a transplant will typically develop symptoms within two weeks to three months of the transplant date. To reduce the risk of getting toxoplasmosis from an organ transplant, organ donors and recipients are given a range of blood tests that can identify individuals at high risk for this infection. High-risk patients are normally given a prescription for co-trimoxazole to reduce their risk. Individuals having a transplant should ask their healthcare team about their risk of toxoplasmosis and steps they can take to reduce this.

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